H.S. boys hockey: Don Bosco wins Bergen County title

Don Bosco’s Cody Calcagno celebrating after his goal late in the third period Thursday night caps the scoring for the Ironmen.

WAYNE — Don Bosco ice hockey’s Chris Moreira and coach Greg Toskos went back to the tape, and Thursday night it ended up paying off huge dividends.

After failing to take advantage of a few opportunities against Delbarton several weeks ago in a loss, Toskos stressed to Moreira the importance of finishing goals in practice, so it’d become second nature come game time.

In Thursday’s Bergen County tournament final, Moreira — part of Bosco’s dynamic first line — struck for the game-tying and go-ahead score in the Ironmen’s 4-1 victory over Ramsey at the Ice Vault.

The first came just 50 seconds after Chris Kopack gave the Rams a 1-0 lead midway through the second period, the second came on a power play with just 7:22 remaining in regulation.

"Chris and I had a little chat about that," said Toskos, after his team three-peated as county champion. "We talked about burying pucks in practice so he can bury them in games. We looked at the video of Delbarton, and it almost embarrassed him to focus more on shooting to score, instead of shooting just to shoot. And he’s done that this tournament for sure."

With Moreira making the most of his chances Thursday night, it was Hunter Garlasco who was the one facilitating it all.

The junior forward, and Bosco’s leading scorer, assisted on both Moreira goals with poise and precision.

"Just look at 17’s [Garlasco’s number] vision," Toskos said. "He’s finding guys open all over the ice. He did on the power play goal, he did on the other goal. Those passes he’s making are Division I-type passes."

For a handful of Don Bosco seniors, it was the third time capping off their county tournament runs with a championship.

Most agreed that Ramsey presented the toughest challenge yet in a county final, with the game still being a one-goal game with under four minutes to go until Bosco’s Greg Jandoli and Cody Calcagno sealed the victory with goals 48 seconds apart late in the third period.

"To three-peat is huge," Moreira said. "It’s tough winning one, but to win three in a row? This was definitely not an easy game. It was a tough battle. They stuck with us all the way until the end. Each title is special, though."

Calcagno, the Ironmen’s senior defenseman, was named tournament MVP, anchoring a back unit that surrendered just one goal in three tournament games.

"It’s always special to be in this position," Toskos said. "I mentioned to them earlier, but you look at the banners in the gym and think 15-20 years from now, a guy like Cody Calcagno will be able to look up at those and say he was a part of the first three county titles here. It’ll be exciting for him to show his kids one day. Three-peats are special.